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Los Angeles Lakers Defense Goes Poof to The Magic…Three Lessons!

By Ronald Agers

ORLANDO, FL - NOVEMBER 17: Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball against the Orlando Magic on November 17, 2018 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Gary Bassing/NBAE via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - NOVEMBER 17: Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball against the Orlando Magic on November 17, 2018 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Gary Bassing/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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3. Rajon Rondo will be gone for a month…get over it!

Luke Walton struggles with his rotation patterns. I know Lakers fans are frustrated beyond belief at some of the combinations that Walton tries. Here’s what I mean…

JaVale McGee came out like gangbusters for the start of the game…

One slam dunk with a pass from Ingram and a pass from James on the fast break with a perfect pocket pass…four points in less than a minute.

He played 15 more minutes in this game. This is absurd. When the Lakers were on their 10-0 run in the fourth quarter, this was the time for Walton to put McGee back in the game. Michael Beasley could not stop Vucevic in the other end and the run was eventually stopped.

Walton needs to tighten up his rotations and figure out who plays well with whom. it’s almost he is drinking the “We’ll figure it out” Kool-Aid. In the games, the coach is supposed to

  • Find the players that will compete on the defensive end.
  • Find five guys that do it well together and finally…
  • Find a matchup to exploit.

I covered this issue about a week ago…

In-game adjustments are a part of being an NBA coach. The Lakers need better from a coach who watches his team give up 37 points in the second quarter, go into the locker room and say “We need to make changes on defense” then the only change is the team gives up one more point (38 points if you are counting!)  in the third quarter than they did in the second quarter.

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